Gasoline-dispensing device



June 1929- P. w. HODGKINSON 1,715,551..

GASOLINE DISPENSING DEVICE Filed July 8, 1925 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented June 4, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PERCY W. HODGKINSON, OF ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA, ASSIGNOR TO WAYNE COM- PANY, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

GASOLINE-DISPENSING DEVICE.

Application filed July 8,

My present invention relates generally to gasoline dispensing devices and more particularly to gasoline delivery or sales apparatus of that type embodying an overhead exposed tank wherein the customer sees the supply of gasoline he is about to receive by purchase. Ordinarily gasoline is forced upwardly into such tanks now in use by a suitable pump and delivered by a flexible delivery tube to the customer and in the hands of unscrupulous persons it is possible to permit a portion of the supply within the overhead tank to flow-back to the source of supply of the gasoline, usually an underground tank so that the customer does not receive the full amount from the overhead or measuring tank as he is supposed to. My primary object is to defeat the possibility of cheatmg the customer in this way and l propose to do this by the provision of an apparatus wherein the overhead or measuring tank is entirely unconnected from the underground or supply tank when delivering its measured supply of gasoline to the customer.

Generally speaking the underground or supply tank in my improved apparatus is in communication'with the overhead or measuring tank by virtue of the delivery tube'of the latter, which delivery tube is entirely disconnected fromthe supply tank during the delivery of gasoline from the measuring tank to the customer.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates my present invention and forms a par of this specification, 1

Figure 1 is a side view partly in section illustrating the practical application of my invention, the delivery tube being in place to form a part of the connections between the t.'.'o tanks,

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical section taken centrally through the interengaging portions of the supply pipe and delivery tube in the connected position of the parts shown in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken substantially on line -33 of Figure 2.

Referring now to these figures I have shown my improved apparatus in Figure 1 as including a gasoline supply tank 10 located below the ground level 11, which is supplied through a filler tube 12 having a cap 13, and into the top of which tank air is introduced on top of the fluid through an air supply pipe 14 from any suitable air pumping device, the air 1925. Serial No. 42,276.

supply pipe 14 having a cut off valve 15 which will in its closed position vent the air space of the supply tank and also having a pressure regulating valve 16 of an'adjustable nature. From the supply tank 10 a rigid supply pipe 17 leads, the inner end of this pipe depending within the tank substantially into the fluid space thereof and the outer end having a rigid socket member 18 which projects above the ground level 11 as shown and is provided with a centrally constricted longitudinal bore 19, the central constriction 20 of which forms a downwardly presented shoulder 21 above the' adjacent end of the supply pipe 17. Within the lower portion of the bore 19 a perforate valve stem guide 22 is mounted having a bearing for a valve stem 23, the latter supporting a valve 24 in its upper end for movement upwardly against and downwardly from its seat formed by the shoulder 21. This valve is noranally held in seated position away from the supply pipe 17 by means of a coil spring 25 and it is obvious that the pressure of the fluid when there is pressure within the tank 10 as sists the spring 25 in maintaining the valve so tightly closed.

The upper portion of the bore 19 above the constriction 20 is tapered as at 26 and around the extreme upper end of its bore the socket member 18 has bayonet slots 27, this structure being more plainly seen by reference to Figures 2 and 3.

Referring again to Figure 1 I have shown an overhead measuring tank 28 which in practice has a cylindrical transparent wall 0 so that the customer can readily view the measured contents before delivery of such contents through a flexible delivery tube 29 which depends from the measuring tank and flow through which is controlled by a cut off valve 30 in the base of the measuring tank. The tank is of course suitably'vented at its upper portion and the lower end of the delivery tube 29 has a head 31 of hollow form, terminating in a conical extension 32 which as best seen in Figure 2 is adapted in position to interfit the conical portion 26 of the bore of the socket member 18. At the extreme end of the conical extension 32 a valve seat is 9 formed for an inwardly seating valve 33 mounted upon the outer end of a stem 34 lengthwise shiftable in the extension 32 and controlled by a spring 35 which normally -holds the valve inclosed position. The inner end of the stem 34 projects into the head 31 immediately adjacent to a valve opening cam 36 pivoted within and to said head and attached to which cam is one end of a flexible control connection 37 passing through the tube 29 and the opposite end of which is connected to the valve 30 so that when, with the parts in the position as shown in Figure 1 wherein the delivery tube 29 forms a part of the gasoline flow connections from the supply tank 10 to the measuring tank 28, the valve 30 is opened by manipulating handle 30, the valve opening cam 36 will be shifted to act against the inner end of stem 34 and shift the stem lengthwise so as to unseat the valve 33. Inasmuch as when the extension 32 is within the socket member 18 as in Figure 2 valve 33 is positioned immediately above the valve 24 of the socket member, the former in its opening movement will strike valve 24 and unseat the latter so that the gasoline then has a free passage from the supply tank 10 to the measurin tank 28.

When t e desired quantity of gasoline has passed upwardly from the supply tank to the measurin tank, and it is to be understood that for t is purpose air pressure introduced through pipe 14 may be controlled by the pressure regulator 16, the valve 30 is closed which pemits the valve 33 in the conical extension of the head to close as well as the valve 24 in the socket member 18;

The extension 32 has diametrically opposed trunnions 38 which in the connected position cooperate with the bayonet slots 27 of the socket member and thus after the valves have been closed, the head, after a slight turn ing movement, may be withdrawn from the socket member and applied to the filling aperture of the gasoline tank or container of the customer. Then by again opening valve 30 the measured quantity of gasoline within the measuring tank 28 flows by gravity into the customers container and at this time it is to be particularly observed there is no connection visible, or invisible between the supply and measuring tanks, so that there is no chance for the unscrupulous dealer to divert any portion of the measured supply of gasoline back to the 'supply'tank.

Should it be desired to drain the gasoline within the measuring tank 28 back to the supply tank 10 it is necessary to connect the parts as in Figure 1 and close the valve 15 in the air supply pipe 14 which will result in venting the upper air space of the supply tank 10. Then by opening the discharge valve 30 of the measuring tank the contents thereof may freely flow by gravity back into'the supply tank. I

It is thus obvious that my invention supplies a simple effective expedient for the purposes first above stated, as well as one which will be effective and efficient in use.

I claim:

1. A gasoline dispensing device including a measuring tank having a lower intake and discharge opening, and otherwise substantially closed, a supply tank having a supply pipe leading therefrom, and a flexible tube in permanent connection at one end with the intake and discharge opening of the measuring tank, and forming an inlet and a discharge tube for the said measuring tank, said tube having means at its free end for detachable engagement with the said supply pipe whereby to act as a supply connection between the tanks which connection may be broken when the tube is used as a discharge for the measuring tank.

2. A gasoline dispensing device including a measuring tank, a supply tank having pressure supply means, a supply pipe for the measuring tank leading from the said supply tank and having a valved socket member, a valved delivery tube leading from the measuring tank, and a valved head carried by the delivery tube and having a portion adapted to interfit the said socket member whereby the discharge tube may be utilized as a part. of the supply connections between the tanks.

3. A gusOline dispensing device including a measuring tank, a supply tank having pressure supply means, a supply pipe for the measuring tank leading from the said supply tank and having a valved socket member, a valved delivery tube leading from the measuring tank, and a valved head carried by the delivery tube and having a portion adapted to interfit the said socket member whereby the discharge tube may be utilized as a part of the supply connections between the tanks, said valves of said discharge tube, head and socket member being simultaneously operable as described.

4. A gasoline dispensing device includinghead shiftable when opened to force open the;

valve of the socket member.

5. In a device of the character described, a hose leading from a delivery receptacle, a discharge nozzle carried by said hose, a drain receptacle adapted to receive said nozzle and having an outlet to connect the same with a storage receptacle, and means for retaining said nozzle in said drain receptacle and forming a tight joint between said nozzle and said drain receptacle.

6. In a .iqui'd dispensing apparatus, a delivery receptacle, a hose leading from said delivery receptacle, a discharge nozzle connected with said hose, a drain receptacle adapted to receive said nozzle and having an outlet to connect the same with a storage reservoir, a valve to control said outlet, means to retain said valve normally in its closed position, and means to open said valve against the action of said retaining means wl hen said nozzle is inserted in said receptac e.

7. A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising an elevated measuring tank, a hose connected to the bottom of said tank, a discharge nozzle carried by said hose, a drain receptacle having an outlet to connect with a storage receptacle and adapted to receive said nozzle, and means for retaining said nozzle in said drain receptacle in fluid tight relation therewit 8. A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising an elevated measuring tank having a transparent sidewall, a hose connected to said tank through which said tank may be drained, a discharge nozzle carried by said hose, a drain receptacle having an outlet to connect with a storage receptacle and adapted to receive said nozzle and means on said nozzle and drain receptacle maintaining them in fluid-tight engaging relation to each other.

9. A liquid measuring and dispensing apparatus comprising a storage tank, a pipe connected to said storage tank, a tubular connection on the outer end of said pipe, an elevated measuring tank having a transparent side wall, a hose connected to the bottom of said measuring tank, a nozzle on said hose, means for connecting said nozzle and said tubular connection forming a fluid-tight joint between them, means for supplying liquid to the said measuring tank through said pipe connection nozzle and hose from said storage tank, and valve means for controlling the draining of said measuring tank to said storage tank through said hosenozzle connection and pipe.

PERCY W. HODGKINSON. 

